Final shot at No. 4

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) ― Park In-bee wants to achieve two things at the Evian Championship ― defend her title and make history.The South Korean is looking to become the first professional golfer to win four majors in a year, something not even Arnold Palmer, Annika Sorenstam or Jack Nicklaus could manage.“Four out of five majors is an amazing thing to achieve,” Park said on Wednesday, a day before the event. “When I go outside the house and go anywhere in Korea, a lot of people come up to

Sept. 12, 2013

Pornanong Phatlum leads Safeway Classic

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) ― Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Lexi Thompson after the first round of the LPGA’s Safeway Classic. The 23-year-old Pornanong had 10 birdies and two bogeys in her afternoon round at Columbia Edgewater. “Putting was so good,” said Pornanong. “I changed putter for this week and feeling very good. And I made many birdies today, like 10 birdies today. ... I just try my best and I’m feeling very good with the course. I

Aug. 30, 2013

Defending champ Ko tied for lead

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) ― Lydia Ko is back on top of the Canadian Women’s Open leaderboard.The 16-year-old Ko, the winner last year at Vancouver Golf Club at an LPGA Tour-record age of 15 years, 4 months, shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday in perfect conditions at Royal Mayfair for a share of the first-round lead with Angela Stanford and Christel Boeljon.Ko, the South Korean-born New Zealander, had six birdies and a bogey. She birdied the opening hole, though she figured that might be a bad omen.“When

Aug. 23, 2013

Huh, Reed share lead

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (AP) ― John Huh refused to let tough conditions ― and one terrible hole ― get him down. He was rewarded with a share of the lead at the Wyndham Championship.The PGA Tour’s reigning rookie of the year shot an even-par 70 on Saturday and joined Patrick Reed atop the field after a soggy third round. Huh and Reed, the second-round leader who shot a 71, were at 10-under 200.Huh shook off a triple bogey on his second hole, making up for it with three birdies in a four-hole s

Aug. 18, 2013

Stroud, Fisher share Wyndham lead at 64

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (AP) ― Chris Stroud and England’s Ross Fisher each shot 6-under 64 on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Wyndham Championship. Eight players ― defending champion Sergio Garcia, Matt Jones, Robert Garrigus, Jordan Spieth, Trevor Immelman, Morgan Hoffman, Patrick Reed and Andrew Svoboda ― shot 65. John Senden and Stuart Appleby were among the five players at 66 at the final tournament before the tour playoffs begin next week. It was the highest score for an op

Aug. 16, 2013

Michelle Wie in the spotlight again as a Solheim pick

PARKER, Colorado (AP) ― Michelle Wie hasn’t won a tournament in three years. She didn’t come close to earning a spot on the Solheim Cup. Being a captain’s pick for the second time on the last three American teams stood out even more this year because one of the players left out won on the LPGA Tour this year.This would seem to be a good time to do whatever she can to blend in at Colorado Golf Club.Except for the socks.Wie added her own touch to the U.S. uniform of a khaki skirt, red shirt and a

Aug. 15, 2013

Pressel, 25, a seasoned veteran at Solheim Cup

PARKER, Colorado (AP) ― It’s a quick ride down the highway from this week’s Solheim Cup to where Morgan Pressel introduced herself to America.Eight years ago this summer, she was a 17-year-old amateur, a childhood prodigy from a blue-blood sporting family, who found herself a few good shots away from a playoff at the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills.A virtually unknown player named Birdie Kim stole away that dream, holing out for ― what else? ― a birdie with a once-in-a-lifetime shot from the greenside

Aug. 14, 2013

Dufner beats Furyk at PGA for 1st major title

PITTSFORD, New York (AP) ― Jason Dufner finally cracked a smile, and gave a slight pump of the fist, saving all that emotion for a big occasion.He won the PGA Championship.Dufner played the kind of golf that wins majors Sunday with a steady diet of fairways and greens that made it too tough for Jim Furyk or anyone else to catch him. Making bogeys on the last two holes at Oak Hill, Dufner closed with a 2-under 68 to capture his first major and atone for a meltdown two years ago in Atlanta.“It’s b

Aug. 12, 2013

Furyk in lead heading to final round

PITTSFORD, New York (AP) ― Oak Hill finally had enough elements for a strong test Saturday in the PGA Championship, and Jim Furyk was up for the fight.Grinding to the end in swirling wind that cast doubt on so many shots, Furyk closed with two big putts ― one for birdie to regain the lead, one for par to keep it ― that gave him a 2-under 68 and a one-shot lead over Jason Dufner going into the final round.Coming off an 18-foot birdie putt on the 17th, Furyk hit his 3-wood so badly on the 472-yard

Aug. 11, 2013

Scott, Furyk tied for lead at Oak Hill

PITTSFORD, New York (AP) ― With every major, Adam Scott is making a convincing case that he isn’t satisfied with just a green jacket.Scott ran off five straight birdies early in his round at soft and vulnerable Oak Hill, and finished with a 15-foot par for a 5-under 65 that gave him a share of the lead Thursday with Jim Furyk in the PGA Championship.Scott finally became a major champion at Augusta National in April when he won a playoff at the Masters. Just three weeks ago, he had the lead on th

Aug. 9, 2013

McIlroy looking for winning self

PITTSFORD, New York (AP) ― The curls no longer spilled from under his cap, a big change for Rory McIlroy. Prompted to reveal the rest of his free haircut, he removed his hat and wild brown locks sprang to life.“Still a little bit on the top,” he said Wednesday with an easy smile.Only then did McIlroy resemble the Boy Wonder who dominated golf last summer, starting with his win at the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island by a record margin. He didn’t walk down the fairways that week, he bounced. He

Aug. 8, 2013